Teams collected a total of 30 hits and scored 21 runs during the May 5, Golden-Littleton league playoff baseball game. But it was a see-saw battle with four lead changes, one tie and the issue in doubt until the final out was recorded. When that out was made the Demons came out on the long end of a 11-10 score.
“This has been a journey,” Demons Coach Jackie McBroom said after the game. “I have known all along this is a good baseball teams but we have had our ups and downs. It seemed we would get on a winning streak, let up, loose some games then rebuild the confidence and return to winning. But I am super proud of us today. We struggled a little down the stretch but when it mattered today we got the job done and won the game.”
The Demons have one senior on the team and the coach said there is no one super strong area.
“We are not great at any one aspect of the game,” he said. “It is just that we are good at everything.”
Golden went into the top of the seventh and final inning trailing 8-7. With two outs and two strikes on the batter, the Demons put together seven hits to score four runs and take the lead 11-8 going into the home half of the seventh.
But Littleton didn’t toss in the towel. With two outs the Lion got a baserunner with two outs, collected two runs to close gap to 11-10. Then Demons relief pitcher Ben McLaughlin got the Lion batter to hit a ground ball for the final out to nail down Golden’s 11-10 win.
“This was a huge win for our team and our program,” Coach McBroom said. “I believe it moves us up in the standings so Golden is in the postseason baseball playoffs for the first time in a lot of years.”
Golden banged out 17 hits that included four doubles. McLaughlin was the hit leader as he went 4 for 5 with a double and drove in two runs. Brad Banks was 3 for 5 and Ethan Whitson was two for five with a double and one RBI.
Pablo Simon started on the mound for the Demons. He pitched 4.1 innings, gave up 11 hits, seven earned runs and struck out one.
Freshman Ben McLaughlin, who started the game at shortstop, was called on to be the reliever and was the winning pitcher. He pitched 2.2 innings, gave up two hits, no earned runs and struck out win
Golden junior Jack McLaughlin, Ben’s brother, said the win was very exciting.
“Last year we were on the edge of the playoffs looking in,” he said. “Today’s win locks up a playoff spot for us and it is awesome.”
The junior who plays shortstop and pitches said his baseball skills have improved since this time last year.
“Yes am a better baseball player now than I was a year ago,” he said. “But more importantly we have improved as a team. Today was a playoff environment and a tough battle. It was back and forth but we kept battling as a team so we ended up on top and that is awesome.”
The win over Littleton wrapped up the regular season for Golden. The Demons finished with an overall record of 10-9 and they are listed 23rd in the Class 4A Colorado High School Activities Association ratings which earns them a spot in the 32-team state regional playoffs, starting May 13.
